Food, Inc.

Sean has been on an organic/whole foods kick for months now and I have sort of half-heartedly been along for the ride. I fully agreed that the kids don't need to eat all that processed food/sugar that is out there, so we have been making healthier choices. This weekend we checked out Food, Inc. from the library and now I am so annoyed. Watching how so much of our food is made (if you can even call that meat food?) is so disturbing. Not only will I have to give up fast food, but our whole way of eating is about to get a major overhaul. I'm astonished that it is so much more expensive to eat real food and that our country has built a system that rewards cutting costs and poisoning our bodies. I can't in good conscience feed my kids those burgers or chicken anymore. Why did I let him talk me into seeing that movie, ugh. I'm not a doctor obviously but I can understand enough to see we have to protect our kids and ourselves from what's out there. Just hearing about Kevin's law was enough to make me sick.

How backwards is it that fruit and veggies are so much more expensive for families to keep in their homes than to drive-thru for a big mac?

Please look into what you are eating and feeding your families! There is little that is more important!

You can watch Food, Inc in bits for yourself here

Farmer Boy

The other night as we were tucking G and T into bed she made a request for a toy to join her (as they often do).

Gracie: "I need my farmer boy!"
Daddy: : "Huh?"
Gracie: "I want my farmer boy to sleep in my bed with me"
Daddy: (rolling his eyes at mommy's snickering) "Fine, but this is the ONLY time I will ever say yes to this!"


Watch yourself, Farmer Boy, Daddy's got his eye on you.

Benny Cleans the House

Benny cleans up after dinner. Missed some food on the floor there..



Benny scrubs the floor


Benny cleans the cabinets


Benny washes off appliances. Go Benny, go!


Benny is happy while he works!


Benny cleans off his toys.


Benny cleans the stairs, too!


He even tries to clean Mommy! Thanks, but I'll take it from here...


I'm thinking I can turn this into a simple book, ala Dick and Jane, for when the kids are teenagers and don't want to help with chores anymore. I can sit them down and show them how simple they are and how they have loved helping me since they were very small. Genius, no?

Princess Parties are Rough

Gracie fell off a chair at my niece's 4th bday party yesterday and used her face to break her fall. It was dark purple for awhile, but this shiner actually looks better than it did last night.

She actually wanted me to take a picture of her owie, which was a nice change of pace from never sitting still for a picture EVER.

Tate also wanted to document his owie.

Love his face here, showing the seriousness of the situation.

Last weekend he was inspecting Grammy's freezer drawer when Gracie slammed it shut with his fingers inside. It looks a million times better than it did at first. dark purple and bloody, I really thought about taking him to the ER, but I'm a big baby. Ice packs and cuddles were the best medicine for both injuries. I'm just hoping nobody calls CPS when we stroll into church today.

My Do IT!

I think all parents of toddlers can attest to the intensity of the MY DO IT stage. If they have decided they can/will do something on their own there is no negotiation. We are learning to roll with G and T's new found independence and when we have to veto an activity. Last night's My DO IT was the hair dryer after bath time. I decided that was safe-ish as long as I controlled the temp and airflow.



What are your kids MY doing?

A Deal

Sean was out of town all weekend on a guy's trip= I went to my mom's for help with our crew. It was craziness as always and I'm still tired.

Sadly, he left again today for AZ for work. Won't be back until Friday=impending doom.

My dad is being a good sport and coming up here for a couple of days to help, and I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth and all, but sometimes he is just another person to take care of. It will be good to have an extra pair of hands regardless to make sure Benny doesn't dive down the stairs.

Last night he broke the news to G and T that he was leaving again. It went like this.

Daddy: I have to leave again to Arizona for work tomorrow.
Gracie: Daddy, why?!
Tate: Yeah, why?
(audible sound of daddy's heart breaking)

Daddy: I have to for work, but I will be right back in a few days and gpa is coming to stay.
G: Oh.
T: Yam (means "yeah") ok.
Daddy: But we can talk on the phone every night and mama will tell me if you are being good! If you are really good I could bring you back a present?
G and T : (Widening eyes) Ok ndsjfijdfiojgjdjfiejrjjijrji (jumble of chatter)
Daddy: what kind of present would you like?
Mama: a new book?
Daddy: candy?
G and T :Yeah candy! 5 candies! blue candies!
Daddy: Ok so every night I'll call and if mama says you are being really good then I will bring you home some candy!
Gracie: YETH! I'll DO IT!

She Strikes Again

I thought we were done with this spiteful using-poop-as-a-weapon business.

Grace and Tate have both been accident free for about a week, and rarely have more than one a day if they do. But this morning I open the door to their room and see a couple of "pieces" on the ground. Grace looks at me and says "What is it, Mama?" and I naively say, "Oh it must be crumbs or chocolate chips" thinking someone snuck a snack in here yesterday. (Yes, my house is dirty enough I could have missed it). Then she says, "No, It's poop!" and laughs.

It took me too long to figure out she had done this on purpose and knew for sure it was poop. Then she showed me the part that was between her bedroom door and mine (they are directly across the hall from each other). So not only did my little girl throw some around her room, she purposely grabbed a piece to roll from under her locked door and aim at mine. Am I supposed to read into this? Was she 'sending me a message' about early bedtime? moving her bed away from the window? or in some other toddler protest?

*Sigh*
No answers here. I'm just happy that a girl at daycare is having cupcakes for her b-day and I told Gracie that girls who play with poop don't get cupcakes (because that makes logical sense, right?). She seemed serious when she told me "My not play with poop anymore, mama, ok?"

Whatever works.